Family group conferences
What is family group conference?
Family group conference is a family led process to talk about and resolve family issues.
Family members including children and young people have a chance to get together and come up with solutions.
Research shows that family and friends know more about their situation than professionals and can make better decisions.
It is voluntary, so it's up families to decide if they want to take part.
How does it work?
First, we will have a chat with the person who referred the family to understand why they think it is a good idea.
A coordinator will meet with parents or caregivers to talk about the situation.
The coordinator will ask what they think needs to happen and find out who in the family should be involved.
They will explain how it works, offer support and encouragement and talk about difficult situations and how to resolve them.
The people involved might be friends, neighbour or other important people who are connected to the family.
Do children and young people have a say in what happens?
It is very important that children and young people have a say in what happens.
The coordinator will ask them what they want to talk about at their meeting, and who they want to be there.
They can attend if they want, or they can write a letter or ask someone to go in their place to share their thoughts.
Children and young people are encouraged to be involved in the process.
The coordinator will speak to each person involved to explain why the family meeting is happening and how they can help.
It's okay if family or friends live far away or can't always be there, as we can work around this. Sometimes we can involve other people online if they can't be there in person.
We know that family members don't always agree with each other or get along. The coordinator will help everyone to work together.
The date, time and place of the meeting will be arranged to best suit the family. It is important that it is a place where everybody is comfortable.
What happens on the day of the meeting?
There are 3 stages of the meeting:
- Information sharing
- Private family time
- Sharing the plan
At stage one, the person who referred the family will explain what is going well and why they are worried about the child or young person. They will also suggest help and support for the family. The coordinator will make sure the meeting runs smoothly.
At stage two, the family will be given private time to talk about their plan. The plan should include what needs to happen and who needs to make it happen. When the family has agreed their plan, the person who referred them and the coordinator will come back into the room to hear what has been agreed.
The family plan will be agreed by the person who referred them if it is safe and is in the best interests of the child or young person and addresses the original concerns.
What happens after the meeting?
After the meeting, the family plan will be written up by the coordinator and copies will be sent to everyone who is involved in the plan.
A review meeting will be arranged to include everyone to see how things are going, and to celebrate if the plan has worked well.
We work with families when they are facing difficult situations or decisions to ensure the well-being and care of children and young people. We provide families with an opportunity to come together and make safe, reasonable and sensible plans for the children.
A professional such as a social worker or support worker can refer a family for a family group conference when they have concerns about a child's welfare. A person with parental responsibility must to agree to the referral before the family works with us.
Before the meeting
Who goes to the meeting?
During the meeting
After the meeting
Lifelong links
Contact
Before the meeting
An independent co-ordinator will organise the meeting and support everyone involved, enabling them to make clear, informed choices. They can help with travel arrangements on the day of the meeting where necessary.
The meeting will be held at a time and place convenient for all the family. Ideally, the venue should be private, local, and comfortable. The aim is to provide a welcoming and safe environment.
Who goes to the meeting?
The co-ordinator will plan with the family and the young person about who to invite to the conference. Family friends who are important to the young person may also come along.
Other people involved with the family, such as a health visitor, social worker or teacher, may be invited, to share information and offer support.
It is a good idea for the child to go to the meeting, but if they are worried, they can have someone at the meeting to support them. This person is called an advocate and will be arranged by the co-ordinator. If the child doesn't want to speak at the meeting, their advocate will speak for them. This person is chosen by the child and could be a friend, family member, teacher or youth worker.
During the meeting
The meeting is in three parts. The referrer and other professionals attend part one and three. Part two is reserved for private family time when informal family discussion and planning takes place.
At the meeting the family will:
- Gather together with the referrer and other people involved with the family to discuss the issues and what direct help they can offer.
- Have private family time, to talk and agree the best plan.
- Clarify the plan with the co-ordinator, making sure it meets the needs of the child and is agreed by everyone at the meeting.
After the meeting
The co-ordinator will make sure anyone who attended receives a written copy of the plan agreed at the family group conference. For the plan to succeed, everyone has to take responsibility for their part.
After the meeting the family will set a date to meet again to review whether the plan has worked. At this meeting changes can be made to the initial plan if needed.
Lifelong links
Building lasting relationships for children in care.
Lifelong Links re-connects children and young people with family members and other trusted adults in a safe way. This could be people they already know, people they haven't seen for a while, or relatives they have never met.
It provides an opportunity for children and young people in care to learn about their family history, and provide supportive, stable relationships during their time in care and beyond.
If you require further information about lifelong links please email FGCservice@lancashire.gov.uk
Contact
If you have any questions please contact us.
Email: FGCservice@lancashire.gov.uk